My Beloved Bronx
by Beverly R. Kahler (A.K.A Da Bronxbabe)
My maiden name was Beverly Regina Weinreb. I was born in 1941 and grew up at 1717 Parkview Avenue, Buhre Avenue. My Mom was Mary Love and my Dad was William Weinreb and my Brother's name is Larry. We were known by my Mom's maiden name most of the time, thus we were all considered to be "The Love Family"
As a little girl, my Mom would often take me to the movies. The local theater was the Pilgrim Theater, also known as "The Pillbox". They used to hold drawings for prizes. One time, I remember winning a "Dagwood Bumstead" harmonica. It was made out of metal and shaped like a sandwich.
The local hangout for the teenagers was Flo's Candy store on Buhre. I can still see it in my mind. The jukebox was in the back and there were several booths. They made dynamite egg creams. For a quarter, the jukebox gave you 4 plays. Can you believe it? I "hung" with the local gang and they were "Golden Guinneas"
Some of the other stores on Buhre included Pressmans Pharmacy, where if you got a splinter in your hand or something in your eye, Mr. Pressman took it out. We didn't need doctors for that. He was free and all the Moms brought their kids to him. We had the local A&P supermarket where you could grind your own coffee. I still remember that there was sawdust on the floor (and I have no idea why). There was a shoe repair store on the corner. I loved when my Mom brought me there, because I got to sit in his booth (it had a little door to open it) and wait for my shoe to be fixed on the spot. Can't get that service anymore.
I lived across from Our Lady of Assumption Church and on Sunday the church bells' ringing would wake me up. In the winter, to get to the main avenue, I had to turn the corner on what was known as "Cardinal Hill" and the wind was always against you turning that dreaded corner, and if there was ice on the ground, forget about it!
As a teenager, I hung out with Audrey Donner (now known as Audrey McHugh) and many times we would walk to Westchester Square and head straight for Woolworths. The floors there were wooden slats and you could feel them bending under your feet as you walked. The earrings were usually under a dollar and we would buy cheap pink or orange lipsticks. Shiny, of course. We wore our lipstick in a fifties style, way above our top lip. A few doors down was Miles Shoe Store where we would buy T-strap shoes for $3.99. It would cost $4.99 if you wanted your shoes in "gun-metal" style.
Audrey and I usually went to the RKO Castle Hill movie theater or the Loew's American movie theater. We would meet up with kids from the Zerega Avenue bunch. On Friday nights we went to St. Helena's dances and I can still hear Father Scanlon saying "Make room for the Holy Ghost!" as he parted the couples who were dancing too close.
Now as an adult my fascination with my roots gave me the idea to start a website devoted to my beloved Bronx. It is www.bronxbabe.com It has free Reunion Boards and also concert schedules and gifts from the New York area.
But my big love is the music! I have also been involved with the DooWop music from the Fabulous Fifties and promote groups from that era.
When I attended Columbus H.S in Bronx, boys would be harmonizing in the stairwells and hallways. What an exciting era to be born and raised in. I have been blessed to be in several Documentaries about either Doowop or Da Bronx. Also my closest male friend is Dion DiMucci and together I feel we epitomize Da Bronx. Dion's publishing company is called "Bronx Soul Music" I have on my site a video clip from one of my appearances on New York PBS Television, discussing DooWop. If you are interested in seeing it, stop on by. As one of my other buddies wrote in his song "Da Bronx Has Been Good To Me" By Butch Barbella (A Bronx Tale)
Beverly R. Kahler
"Bronxbabes Doowop and Reunion Stop"
or join me at
www.myspace.com/bevdabronxbabe
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